Land acting gigs on “Days of Our Lives,” then Disney’s next big teen franchise, then a movie with Jonah Hill and Sam Rockwell. Check.

Do this with no prior acting experience. Check all.

Minnesota model Kylie Bunbury’s Hollywood success story has been anything but ordinary. For some aspiring actors, it can take a lifetime to land crucial parts in TV commercials, shows or film. But the 22-year-old from Prior Lake has become one of Hollywood’s up-and-comers in less than a year.

“When I first moved out here, no one wanted to see a complete unknown. I was eating crackers for lunch and dinner,” Bunbury says. “Then it all started happening really fast.”

Starting next month, Bunbury will get plenty of screen time when Disney releases “Prom,” called the franchise’s next “High School Musical.” This summer, moviegoers also can see her alongside Hill and Rockwell in “The Sitter.”

Bunbury moved to Los Angeles last year to pursue acting after years of modeling in the Twin Cities. She got her start when she signed with Minneapolis-based Vision Management Group in 2007 when she was a senior in high school. She quickly became one of the agency’s top commercial models, securing regular stints with Target and Vanity clothing. After three years, Bunbury was ready to advance her career but found she was limited.

“I’m 5 (feet), 8 (inches). I wasn’t tall enough for high fashion,” Bunbury says. “I have more of an athletic build.”

Her agency saw the potential for her to grow in another way: acting. “She has an incredible personality and what we all call that ‘it’ factor,” says Teqendama Zea-Aida, co-owner of Vision. “We believed in her so much, we thought, ‘What else can we do for her?’ ”

Vision helped Bunbury put together acting reels and connected her to a Los Angeles agent. One of the staff members even accompanied Bunbury on the road trip to Los Angeles.

Given her pretty, wholesome looks, Bunbury is relatable but has the star power to stand out in a room. When she speaks, she projects intelligence, and her presence is engaging, upbeat and down to earth. Her Midwestern and worldly charm (her father was a professional soccer player, so the family lived in England and Portugal during Bunbury’s childhood) also helps.

“One of the things I’ve taken from Minnesota is kindness, which is really appreciated out here,” Bunbury says. “People are always acknowledging how people from Minnesota are so kind.”

Bunbury’s early successes make it look like finding work in Hollywood is easy, but she has proved she can work hard and is a quick study. Without acting classes, Bunbury’s first job was delivering a few lines as a character named Kathleen on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” With her first two films slated for release, 2011 could be her breakthrough year. In the meantime, she’s taking things day by day.

“It’s been so rapid and unconventional,” Bunbury says. “I’m so excited for all these things to happen. At the same time, I’m scared because I’m not sure if I’m prepared. I truly don’t have proper words to express my elation and how truly blessed I am.”

Nancy Ngo can be reached at 651-228-5172.

MINNESOTA MODELS

Bunbury isn’t the only local model making the rounds on national and international circuits. Here are two more Vision models who are hot right now. Be sure to look for them gracing runways and featured in fashion spreads, ads and commercials in 2011:

Who: Michael Elmquist

Hometown: Rockford, Minn.

Current residence: New York

Age: 22

Why he’s hot: Since being discovered in May 2009, Elmquist has traveled the world and can be spotted on high-profile runways and in fashion spreads.

Where he has been spotted: Recently worked the runway for DKNY, Patrik Ervell, ROARK at Fashion Week in New York; walking runways during Milan and Paris fashion weeks; on billboards and in magazines as part of the June 2010 Uniqlo campaign; Elmquist’s 12-page photo spread in BlackBook magazine last year was given a bigger boost when it was named best men’s editorial 2010 by the New York Times.

How he got his break: “I was living in Aitkin, Minn., working at a country-western radio station, when my friend Bridgett Swenson encouraged me to look into modeling. I passed because I didn’t know anything about modeling. But then a year later, in the spring of 2009, she sent me a link to Vision in Minneapolis. I sent them a photo, and they e-mailed me back five minutes later. Then, it all happened really fast. A few weeks later, I was in New York and then traveling to other countries. They’ve connected me with agencies in New York, Paris and Milan.

Where to find him in 2011: In the spring/summer campaign for Stussy clothing; Hugo Boss commercial, to be released in June. Expect him to land more contracts from his Fashion Week runway work.

Who: Devon Ericksen

Hometown: Rosemount, Minn.

Current residence: New York

Age: 24

Why she’s hot: The 5-foot-9 knockout photographs in a way that combines modern and classic. Photographers love that versatility. Her red hair also has helped her get jobs with national and international hair-care labels.

Where she has been spotted: Burlington Coat Factory commercials; Target, Lacoste and Walmart ads.

How she got her break: “I modeled here and there in high school and always enjoyed it. I took a break from modeling to get a degree in education. When I graduated the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the winter of 2008, it was pretty much impossible to get a teaching job. I sent a few pictures to Vision. The next thing I knew, I had jobs on ‘Twin Cities Live’ and ‘Shop NBC’ with celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson. He strongly suggested getting me out to New York City. I’ve been modeling in New York since the beginning of 2010.”

Where to find her in 2011: Hair ads for Pantene and Clairol; commercials for Warren-Tricomi hair care and Blade Buddy; ad for Under Armour; commercial for Profoto continuous lights iPad App.

Nancy Ngo is a Minnesota Native who grew up reading the Pioneer Press, so it’s fitting that she would one day work for them. She is a three time Society of Professional Journalists Page One Award winner. Before covering food and lifestyle, she has previously covered government and public safety. She has served on boards including the Asian American Journalists Association and The University of Minnesota’s The School of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni Society Board.

As you comment, please be respectful of other commenters and other viewpoints. Our goal with article comments is to provide a space for civil, informative and constructive conversations. We reserve the right to remove any comment we deem to be defamatory, rude, insulting to others, hateful, off-topic or reckless to the community. See our full terms of use here.

More in Things to Do

I’m tempted to say a spoonful of sugar will help “Mary Poppins Returns,” but that’s going a bit too far, don’t you think? Indubitably. Plus, it would be stealing from the much better “Mary Poppins,” which has stood unmolested, untouched and untampered with these past 54 years. Until now. Ah, but “Mary Poppins Returns” is a sequel, you say. That...

The big problem with Aquaman as a character is his powers, or lack thereof. While the extent of his strength has varied since he was introduced by DC Comics in 1941, Aquaman is best known for his ability to exist underwater. That, and he can … talk to fish. It's a skill set that would make him the MVP in...

Delta Air Lines plans to offer direct flights next year between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Mexico City. The move -- subject to approval by the federal government -- would connect the Twin Cities beginning June 8 with a key financial center in Latin America that is home to almost 9 million people. “Mexico City is just the latest in...

When the owners of Ice Castles announced they wouldn’t be building their popular tourist attraction in downtown Stillwater this winter, Frank Fabio from Maple Island Brewing got to work. Fabio called other downtown business owners and the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce to tell them about an epiphany he had on a family trip to Duluth last winter. "We went...